Jumbos Get Season Bests and NCAA Qualifiers at Last Chance Meet

(3/3/2006) Full Results

Tufts University traveled to Coxe Cage at Yale University for a Last Chance Meet hosted by Trinity. For most of the Jumbos, this competition was the final opportunity to acheive an NCAA qualifying mark, or improve their standing on the national list.

The Distance Medley Relay squad showed up knowing exactly what was on the line. The Jumbos fielded a formidable team for this event. Kyle Doran lead off with the 1200m leg, Nate Cleveland followed with the 400m leg, Patrick Mahoney for the 800m leg and Matt Fortin to close with the mile leg. Kyle Doran led off strong running the 1200, nestling himself within the pack for the first 800 meters and finishing the last 400 meters with an impressive kick. He passed the baton off to Cleveland with great placement in the field. With two runners ahead of him, Cleveland slowly bridged the gap between the Jumbos and the number two spot. Mahoney got the baton just behind the the Rochester Institute of Technology. When Fortin took over he was steps ahead of RIT, but well behind the Elizabethtown anchor. Matt ran well but could not make up the ground for the top spot. The DMR finished second with an NCAA provisional time of 10:06.09. At this point, the foursome can only hope that their effort will allow them to run with Division III's best next weekend.

Junior Dustin Virgilio was the only other Tufts athlete on the track. He took third in the 400 meter dash with a time of 51.66. Dustin's time was his second fastest ever in the open 400.

The remainder of the Jumbos were competing in various field events. Fred Jones competed only in the Long Jump this evening. Once fully warm, Fred jumped to a season's best and first place. His mark of 7.17/23-6.5 bested the field and secured himself a spot in the event at Nationals. Dan Marcy finished third in a close Triple Jump competition with a 45-7 leap.

Ted McMahan and Jeremy Arak competed in the High Jump. McMahan struggled early in the season, but has seen improvement as of late. He placed seventh with a mark of 1.91/6-03.5. Although Ted's mark was a college best, it did not meet his lofty goal of qualifying for Nationals. Arak also cleared 1.91 but placed 6th due to fewer misses.

Senior tri-captain Jason Galvin concluded his indoor season. Jason took part in two events, placing fifth in both the Shot Put and Weight Throw. He has improved in both these events during his final indoor campaign and looks forward to outdoors where he will compete in his specialty, the Hammer Throw.


Full Results